Getting to Bamfield and Pachena Bay

Whether you are arriving by road, boat, or air, we can help you plan your trip to Bamfield and Pachena Bay! Here are a few tips and resources for getting to the campground. Please note, there is a Pachena Bay Gas Bar, offering Gasoline and Diesel fuel Monday-Sunday.

By Road

The Pachena Bay Campground is approximately five kilometres (km) south of Bamfield, BC, on the Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island. We will use Bamfield as the destination as it is represented on the highway signs.

Just remember to watch for the Pachena Bay turnoff just before you reach Bamfield. If you have any questions about how to get here, send us an email: Info@PachenaBayCampground.ca or give our campground staff a call at: 1-250-728-1287.

From Victoria

Travel north on Highway 1 to Duncan (84km). Continue north along Highway 1 about 5km and you will come to a junction of Highway 1 and Highway 18. You can either continue on Highway 1 towards Nanaimo and then on to Port Alberni OR , you can turn left onto Highway 18 and travel west towards Youbou.

From Port Alberni

When entering Port Alberni, take the left fork at the tourism information centre following signs “to City Centre” and “Bamfield.” This is the Port Alberni Highway. Continue following signs to Bamfield through Port Alberni. The signs will eventually lead you to Franklin River Road, which is the start of approximately 83km of gravel logging roads leading to Bamfield. Expect a 1 1/2 hour drive on regularly graded gravel roads. Watch for logging trucks and eventually, the turnoff to Pachena Bay just before the Bamfield town centre.

Youbou and Lake Cowichan

Turn left onto Highway 18 and continue until you reach Youbou (approximately 45km). From there continue on the following gravel logging roads to Bamfield: Nitinat Road to South Road (8km); left onto Flora Main for 13km; Central Main for 17km; Right onto Klanawa Main, Left at Between the Lakes and turn Left onto Bamfield Main Line and follow the signs to Bamfield. The roads are well kept and, other than the dust… the scenery is beautiful. Keep an eye out for logging trucks. Pull over onto the side of the road when you see one coming. The drive takes about 2 1/2 hours.

Even though the Youbou route is shorter, you will spend more time on gravel roads.

Bamfield Pachena Taxi

By Boat

M.V. Frances Barkley

The MV Frances Barkley provides passenger and freight service to communities along Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. All sailings leave Port Alberni at 8 am, sail down Alberni Inlet to Barkley Sound to Bamfield; or the Broken Group Islands and Ucluelet return to Port Alberni late afternoon.

The trip to Bamfield takes 4 1/2 hours, arriving at 12:30 pm. The boat departs again at 1:30 pm, arriving back in Port Alberni at 5:30 pm.

Quick Links

About Pachena Bay Campground

Pachena Bay Campground is nestled in an old-growth rainforest next to an expansive, sandy beach that directly faces the open Pacific Ocean. The campground has been smartly upgraded to welcome RVs and campers as well as tenting.

The campground is at the mouth of the Pachena River next to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations community of Anacla. Pachena Bay is at the head of the world-famous West Coast Trail and is 5 kms from Bamfield, BC on Vancouver Island’s unspoiled west coast.